The 46th season of the Smithsonian Chamber Music Society features musical masterpieces from the late 16th century to the cusp of the 21st, played on some of the world’s most highly prized musical instruments. Veteran musicians of the Society are joined in several of the programs by emerging artists during this 7-concert series held on Sundays*.
The season presents three chamber program dyads, plus a chamber orchestra concert. The Smithsonian Consort of Viols makes two appearances. In the first, fugues of Bach from The Art of Fugue are combined with Bach fugue arrangements by Mozart. The spring program features English consort music by Orlando Gibbons and Henry Purcell, whose 1680 fantazias provide a fitting capstone to a venerable tradition. Catherine Manson and Rebecca Landell Reed join the SCMS artistic director in two programs surveying Beethoven piano trios, and in another pairing, Slowik is partnered by violinist Edwin Huizinga, viol player Arnie Tanimoto, and harpsichordist Corey Jamason for sonatas, suites, and trios of J. S. Bach and Jean-Philippe Rameau. The January chamber orchestra concert honors the 150th anniversary of Arnold Schönberg's birth.
*Special Information for this Concert Series
- This series includes seven Sunday concerts. The January 28 concert has a different start time and location compared to the rest of the series so please read this section carefully.
- Location: Except for January 28, the remaining Sunday concerts start at 6:30 p.m. and will take place in the National Museum of American History’s intimate Nicholas and Eugenia Taubman Hall of Music at 14th St. and Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, DC. The Sunday, January 28 concert starts at 7:30 p.m. and will be held at St. Mark's Capitol Hill, 301 A St. SE, Washington, DC (Metro: Capitol South).
- This Sunday concert series does not include pre-concert lectures.
Concert Season Repertoire
Sunday, October 15, 2023, 6:30 p.m.
Fugues of Bach and Mozart
The Smithsonian Consort of Viols
Kenneth Slowik, Arnie Tanimoto, Catherine Slowik, and Chelsea Bernstein, viols
Sunday, November 5, 2023, 6:30 p.m.
Sonatas and Trios of Bach and Rameau
Edwin Huizinga, violin; Arnie Tanimoto, viola da gamba; Kenneth Slowik, harpsichord
Sunday, November 19, 2023, 6:30 p.m.
Piano Trios of Beethoven
Op. 1, No. 2 in G Major; Fourteen Variations, Op. 44; Op. 11 in B-flat Major
The Smithsonian Chamber Players
Catherine Manson, violin; Rebecca Landell Reed, cello; Kenneth Slowik, fortepiano
Sunday, January 28, 2024, 7:30 p.m.**
Béla Bartók: Rumanian Folk Dances, Sz.56
Florence Price: Andante moderato
Ludwig van Beethoven, arr. Gustav Mahler: Quartetto serioso, Op. 95
Arnold Schönberg: Verklärte Nacht, Op. 4
The Smithsonian Chamber Orchestra
Kenneth Slowik, conductor
**This concert has a different start time and will be held at a different location compared to the rest of the outlined series: St. Mark's Capitol Hill, 301 A St. SE, Washington, DC (Metro: Capitol South).
Sunday February 11, 2024, 6:30 p.m.
Piano Trios of Beethoven
Op. 1, No. 1 in E-flat Major; Op. 1 No. 3 in C Minor; Op. 70, No. 1 in D Major, the Ghost
The Smithsonian Chamber Players
Catherine Manson, violin; Rebecca Landell Reed, cello; Kenneth Slowik, fortepiano
Sunday, February 25, 2024, 6:30 p.m.
Suites and Sonatas of J. S. Bach
The Smithsonian Chamber Players
Corey Jamason, harpsichord; Kenneth Slowik, cello and viola da gamba
Sunday, March 17, 2024, 6:30 p.m.
Consorts of Orlando Gibbons and Henry Purcell
The Smithsonian Consort of Viols
Kenneth Slowik, Arnie Tanimoto, Wade Davis, Catherine Slowik, Chelsea Bernstein, and Lily Schrantz viols
7 concerts
General Information
- This series is also available on Saturdays. Note that the Saturday series include pre-concert lectures for six of its seven concerts.
- If you are interested in additional Smithsonian Chamber Music Society in-person concert series, check out these 2023-2024 season options:
- Refer to our health and safety information for in-person programs.
